alt Hacker NewsNo, the point of proofs in mathematics IS to prove a particular statement is true, given certain axioms (accepted truths). Yes, there are numerous benefits beyond demonstrating something is undeniably true, given certain accepted truths, perhaps more “useful” than the proof itself, but math is a method of formal knowledge that doesn’t accept shortcuts.
A lot of mathematicians (myself included) would say that the point of proofs isn’t entirely to know whether or not a statement is true, but that it exists to promote human understanding. In fact, I’d argue that at some level, knowing whether or not a theorem is true can be less important than understanding an argument.
This is why having multiple different proofs is valuable to the math community—because different proofs offer different perspectives and ways of understanding.